Coronavirus: La Liga suspended for two weeks due to outbreak in Spain

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

All football matches in Spain’s top division, LaLiga, have been suspended for “at least” two weeks over fears of the spread of the coronavirus, the league’s organising body said in a statement on Thursday.

The league’s statement said the decision came after Real Madrid put its squad into quarantine, and that it had notified the clubs, the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) and the national sports ministry of the postponements.

Los Blancos’ football team have been put into quarantine after it emerged a basketball player for the club had tested positive for the virus, with the two squads sharing training facilities.

LaLiga will revisit the decision after the next two matchdays have passed, currently scheduled for 13-15 March and 20-22 March, after which tie domestic action is scheduled to stop anyway for an international break.

Even so, questions remain over European competition, with Real Madrid due to face Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday. LaLiga rivals Barcelona face Napoli on Wednesday night in the same competition.

Europa League games involving Sevilla and Getafe were due to be played on Thursday night, but have already been postponed.

Other games, including Manchester United’s trip to LASK in Austria, are still set to go ahead behind closed doors.